Some are fixed or sessile, but not cemented at their base like the 

 testaceous annelids. The only mode of attachment appears to be a 

 thin film of sarcose. The Lobatula of Fleming, and the Rosalia and 

 Planorbulina of D'Orbigny belong to this division. 



Dr. Carpenter considers the Foraminifera to be phytophagous, in 

 consequence of his having detected in some specimens, by the aid 

 of the microscope, fragments of DiatomacetB and other simple forms 

 of vegetable life. But as I have dredged them alive at a depth of 

 108 fathoms (which is far below the Laminarian zone), and they are 

 extremely abundant at from 40 to 70 fathoms, ten miles from land 

 and beyond the range of any seaweed, it may be assumed without 

 much difficulty, that many, if not most of them, are zoophagous, and 

 prey on microscopic animals, perhaps even of a simpler form and 

 structure than themselves. They are in their turn the food of mol- 

 lusca, and appear to be especially relished by DentaUum Entale. 



With respect to Dr. Carpenter's idea that they are allied to 

 sponges, I may remark that Polystomella crispa (an elegant and not 

 uncommon species) has its periphery set round at each segment with 

 siliceous spicula, like the rowels of a spur. But as there is only one 

 terminal cell, which is connected with all the others in the interior 

 by one or more openings for the pseudopodia, the analogy is not 

 complete, this being a solitary, and the sponge a compound or 

 aggregate animal. 



I believe the geographical range or distribution of species in this 

 group to be regulated by the same laws as in the Mollusks and other 

 marine animals. In the gulf of Genoa I have found (as might have 

 been expected) species identical with those of our Hebridean coast, 

 and vice versd. 



In common with Dr. Carpenter, I cannot help deploring the ex- 

 cessive multiplication of species in the present day, and I would in- 

 clude in this regret the unnecessary formation of genera. Another 

 Linnaeus is sadly wanted to correct this pernicious habit, both at 

 home and abroad. 



The group now under consideration exhibits a great tendency to 

 variation of form, some of the combinations (especially in the case of 

 Marginulind) being as complicated and various as a Chinese puzzle. 

 It is, I believe, undeniable, that the variability of form is in an in- 

 verse ratio to the development of animals in the scale of Nature. 



